Wheel-hub.



l No'. 872,"7155 PATENTED DEG. 3', 1907.

W. J. GONNALLY.

l WHEEL HUB.

ArPLIoATIoN FILED MAY s, 1907.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

MI III? PATENTBD DEG. s, 1907.

W. J. GONNALLY. WHEEL HUB. APPLICATION FILED MAY a, 1907.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

indicated by the arrows.

NTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WHEEL-HUB.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented Dee. s, 1907.

Application filed May 3. 1907. Serial No. 371,603.

ymoved and replaced with a new spoke without impairing the etliciency of the other spokes.

The invention also contemplates the provision in a wheel hub of simple and efficient means tor supplying lubricant to an axle spindle and for retaining the lubricant in contact with the intermediate portion of the spindle.

With the foregoing in mind the invention will be fully understood from the following description and claims when the same are read in connection with the accompanying drawings, forming part of this speciiication, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation illustrating a hub constructed in accordance with my invention as provided with a spoke which is properly arranged therein. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal central section .ot the same, with certain parts in elevation. Figs. 3, 4 and 5, are transverse sections taken in the planes indicated by the lines 3-3, 4 4, and 5 5, respectively, of Fig. l, looking in the direction Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail perspective view of the inner portion of one ol the wood spokes comprised in my improvements. Fig. 7 is a detail lons gitudinal section, partly in elevation, showing the means in the metallic hub body Jfor supporting and holding the inner portions of the spokes. Fig. 8 is a detail view of a m'odiiication hereinafter referred to.

Similar letters designate corresponding parts in all of the views of the drawings, referring to which:

A is an axle spindle. This spindle is provided with a collar a at its inner end and is preferably provided adjacent to its outer end with a diametrical aperture b to receive a linch pin c. I prefer to employ this linch pin in removably securing the box of my novel hub on the spindle, but I do not desire to be understood as coniining myself to the same as any approved means may be employed for the said purpose without affecting my invention.

B is the hub box. This box is provided at its inner end with a boss d, Figs. 2 and 3, and is also provided with longitudinal ribs e, Fig. 4, and an .exterior thread f; the latter being located on the outer portion of the box and designed for a urpose presently described. In the inner si e of the box B and between' the ends thereof are formed two longitudinal' recesses g. These recesses g receive pads C, of felt or other suitable absorbent material, the o'Hice of which is to receive lubricant from a duct presently described, and retain the saine in contact with the intermediate portion oi. the spindle, this in order to prevent an excessive quantity ot lubricant reaching either end of the box and causing the collection of dust and grit therein.

Surrounding the box B is the metallic body of the improved hub. The said metallic body comprises an inner section D, an outer section E, and an annulus F the inner section D and the annulus F being provided with inner longitudinal grooves to receive the ribs e otl theV box, whereby said inner section D and annulus F may be slipped on and off the box and yet are held against turning thereon, while the outer metallic section E is interiorly threaded to engage the exterior thread f on the box as shown in Fig. 2. It will also be noticed by reference to Fig. 2 that the inner section D is provided with a shoulder i to bear against the boss d on box B, and that the inner end of the hub is rendered dustproof by a dust-band G threaded into the inner end of the section D, while the outer end is rendered dust-proof by a cap H threaded into the outer end of the section E, all as best shown in Fig. 2. The section E is provided at p with a longitudinal groove,

Figs. 2 and 5, ot dovetail torni in cross-sec? tion, and with this groove is designed to be alined a notch 1" in the cap H so as to receive a removable fastening barl. This fastening bar serves to hold the cap H against casual disconnection from the body section E, and it is connected to said section E through a screw J which extends through a threaded aperture in the section E and is set against the box B to prevent casual turning of the section E thereon. When, however, it is desired to turn the section E on box B, it is siniply necessary to turn the screw J out in the section E, and to disconnect the fastening bar I from the section E and remove the same from the groove in the section and the notch in the cap permits of the said cap and the section E being separated.

K is a conduit extending through the body section E and threaded through the box B and having a removable cap m at its outer end. is supplied to the absorbent pads C so as to enable the said pads to serve the purpose hereinbefore ascribed to the same.

/Vith the exception of the absorbent pads C and the recesses g in the box B, the construction thus far described is similar to the construction disclosed in my contemporary application iiled February 25, 1907, Serial Number 359,246, and while 1 prefer to employ the said construction in my improved hub, 1 do not desire to be understood as confining myself to the same, inasmuch as such changes or modifications may be made in the practical use of my present invention as fairly fall within the scope of the invention as defined in the claims appended.

By reference to Figs. l, 2, 4 and 7, it will be observed that the hub section D is provided adjacent to its outer end with a circumferential Harige M, and that said section D is also provided at its outer end with a circular series of spaced and equi-distant outwardly extending projections N the outer ends of which are square as indicated by t in Fig. 7. It will also be observed that the annulus F has a radially disposed face u parallel to the face o of iiange M, and further has a circular groove w and a circular series of seats 9c, which latter snugly receive the outer ends of the projections N on the section D. By virtue of this construction and relative arrangement of parts, it will be apparent that the section D and the annulus F support and lend strength each to the other, and yet the said annulus is readily separable from the section D as when it is desired to remove a broken spoke and replace the same with a new spoke.

P P are the wood spokes of my improved hub construction. The base portions a of the said spokes are vertical at one side, as indicated by b', to rest close against the face o of the flange M on section D, and are provided at their opposite sides with shoulders c to engage the circular wall of the recess w in the annulus F. The other sides of' the said base portions a are slightly converged toward the axis of the hub, as indicated by d so as to permit the plurality of spokes to rest one against the other as best shown in Fig. 4. Said base portions a. are also shouldered at e to bear on the outer edges of the projections N, Fig. 4, and are provided with integral reduced portions to occupy the spaces between the said projections N. By virtue of this construction- Through this conduit lubricant it will be manifest that the reduced inner ends f of the wood spokes are supported at either side throughout their length by the projections N of section D, and that the inner ends of the said reduced end portions f are backed by the section D, while the outer ends thereof are backed by the walls between the seats a; in the annulus F, all of which conduces to the strength of the connections between the spokes and the metallic hub body and lessens the liability of the inner portions of the spokes being broken with the result that the period of usefulness of the wheel as a whole is materially prolonged. By virtue of the shoulder c of the spokes resting at the inner side of the outer wall of the recess w in annulus F, the said annulus is obviously enabled to strongly hold the spokes against outward Inovement-i. e., movement in a direction away from the axis of the hub, which also contributes to the strength and durability of the hub construction as a whole.

As shown in Figs. 1,2 and 4, the flange M of the section D and the outer portion o'f the annulus F, are detachably connected through the medium of longitudinally disposed headed bolts T. These bolts T extend loosely through apertures in the outer portion of the annulus F and are threaded into correspondingly threaded sockets provided in enlargements U on the flange M of the section D. It will also be seen by reference to Fig. 4 that the bolts T extend between certain of the spokes P and rest in grooves 7L provided in opposed faces of the spokes. From this construction it follows that while the annulus F is strongly connected with the section D, a disconnection may be expeditiously and easily effected for the purpose of removing a broken spoke and replacing the same with a new spoke; and it also follows that because of the bolts T resting in grooves in the opposed faces of the spokes, the said bolts are enabled to assist in holding the spokes against outward movement-ft'. e. movement in a direction of the hub.

It will be gathered from the foregoing that in addition to the strength and durability of my novel wheel hub, and the facility with which broken spokes may be removed and replaced with new spokes, my said hub is materially advantageous because it combines compactness and neatness in appearance with its other features of advantage.

The hub of the modified construction shown in Fig. S is similar to that shown in Fig. 7 with the exception that the annulus F of the former is flat and smooth from the seats x outward. The modified spoke P', alsol shown in Fig. S, is like the spoke P shown in Fig. 6 except that it lacks the shoulder c of the latter. By virtue of the modified construction the spokes may be away from the axis conveniently driven to place after-the annulus F and hub section M are assembled, and when so positioned the spokes are strongly held and reinforced by the section M and annulus F.

I-Iaving described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters-Patent, 1s:

1. The combination in a wheel hub, of a body section having a circular series of spaced, outwardly extending projections, an annulus connected with the body section and having a circular series of seats receiving the outer ends of the projections on the body section, and also having a recess surrounding said series of seats, and spokes having base portions resting between the body section and the annulus and on the projections of the former, and also having reduced inner ends disposed between the projections, and a shoulder resting against the outer wall of the recess in the annulus.

2. The combination in a wheel hub, oi a body section having a circumferential iiange at its outer end and also having a circular series of spaced, outwardly extending projections, an annulus having a circular series of seats receiving the outer ends of the pro jections on the body section and also having a recess surrounding said series of seats, spokes having base portions resting between the body section and the annulus and on the projections of the former, and also having reduced inner ends disposed between the projections and a shoulder resting against the outer wall of the recess in the annulus,

- and bolts detachably connecting the body section and the annulus; the said bolts having heads and being extended through one of the said elements and threaded into the other and being also arranged in recesses in opposed faces of certain of the spokes.

3. The combination in a wheel hub, of a box having a boss at its inner end and also having an exterior longitudinal rib and an exterior thread, a body section arranged on the box in engagement with the rib or ribs thereof and having a circular series of spaced, outwardly extending projections, an annulus arranged on the box and in engagement with the rib thereof and connected with the body section and having a circular series of seats receiving the outer end of the projections on the body section, and also having a recess surrounding saidseries of seats, spokes having base portions resting between the body section and the annulus and on the projections oi the former and also ends disposed between the projections, and a shoulder resting against the outer wall of the recess in the annulus, an outer body section threaded on thebox and arranged against the outer side of the annulus, means connected to the first mentioned body section` for excluding dust from the inner end of the hub, and means connected to the outer body section Jfor excluding dust Jfrom the outer end of the hub.

4.l The combination in a wheel hub, of a body section having a circular series o spaced, outwardly extending projections, :an

'annulus having a circular series of seats receiving the outer ends of the projections on the body section, and also having a recess surrounding said series of seats, means Jfor holding the annulus against movement in a direction' away from the body section, and spokes having base portions resting between the body section and the annulus and on the projections of the former and also having reduced inner ends disposedbetween the projections, and a shoulder resting against the outer wall of the recess in the annulus.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM JEFFERSON CONNALIJY.'

Witnesses:

vW. F. CALLIco'rT, f NELL MoDoNALD.

having reduced innerA 

